(choose) We cannot always choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we react. Choose to be HAPPY!

(delight) A true measure of your happiness is the extent to which you delight in other people's happiness. It is easy to be excited when things are going well for you, but how hard is it to be happy when things may not go as planned and others are having success at the same time. Your happiness in life will increase 100x as you learn to delight in the happiness of others.

(endure) Doctrine and Covenants Chapter 121

7 "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

When tough times come your way, if you are able to endure it, you will come out happier than before. This is a promise from God, not me.

(forgive) Forgive and the joy will follow.

Withholding forgiveness from someone is the same as withholding happiness from yourself and your offender. Forgiveness will lighten the pain felt by all parties and will replace it with joy.

(gratitude) “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur

We may say "Thank you" or "Thanks" a lot, but do we really mean it? Express your gratitude to others and you will enjoy life and in turn allow others to feel valued. All in all, Gratitude is what makes love deepen and friendships strengthen.

And my brother is back from Japan! Yawoo!Unfortunately I don't really get to see him, but hey - at least he is once again on the same continent!

And... yeah.

That's about it.

xoxo,

McCall

Happy Uncommon Instruments Awareness Day!

I may have gone off track because of Encampment, but here is the update of my cousin's ABC's to happiness:

(I think eventually I will have one grand post with the lot of them bundled together.)

(choose) We cannot always choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we react. Choose to be HAPPY!

(delight) A true measure of your happiness is the extent to which you delight in other people's happiness. It is easy to be excited when things are going well for you, but how hard is it to be happy when things may not go as planned and others are having success at the same time. Your happiness in life will increase 100x as you learn to delight in the happiness of others.

(endure) Doctrine and Covenants Chapter 121

7 "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

When tough times come your way, if you are able to endure it, you will come out happier than before. This is a promise from God, not me.

(forgive) Forgive and the joy will follow.

Withholding forgiveness from someone is the same as withholding happiness from yourself and your offender. Forgiveness will lighten the pain felt by all parties and will replace it with joy.

(gratitude) “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur

We may say "Thank you" or "Thanks" a lot, but do we really mean it? Express your gratitude to others and you will enjoy life and in turn allow others to feel valued. All in all, Gratitude is what makes love deepen and friendships strengthen.

And my brother is back from Japan! Yawoo!Unfortunately I don't really get to see him, but hey - at least he is once again on the same continent!

Monday, July 30, 2012

“Sometimes beautiful things come into our lives out of nowhere. We can't always understand them, but we have to trust in them. I know you want to question everything, but sometimes it pays to just have a little faith.” ―Lauren Kate, Torment

YEARS AGO, I read that it was the responsibility of parents not to pave the road for their children, but to provide a road map. So, as my son, Adam, prepared to leave for college, I jotted down a few words of counsel and put them in a dime-store binder. After his mother and I had helped him move into his dorm, I presented him with the bound pages. A few days later, Adam called me. "Dad," he said, the book is one of the best gifts I've ever received. I'm going to add to it and someday give it to my son." Every once in a while life hands you a moment so precious, so overwhelming, that you almost glow. I had just experienced one.

Here are the words I gave him.

Compliment three people each day.Watch a sunrise at least once a year:Overtip breakfast waitresses.Look people in the eye.Say "thank you" a lot.Say "please" a lot.Live beneath your means.Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.Treat everyone you meet as you want to be treated.Donate two pints of blood every year.Make new friends but cherish the old ones.Keep secrets.Don't waste time learning the "tricks of the trade."Instead, learn the trade.Admit your mistakes.Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be.No one can tell the difference.Choose a charity in your community and support it generously with your time and money.Read the Bill of Rights.Use credit cards only for convenience, never for credit. Never cheat.Give yourself a year and read the Bible cover to cover.Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all he or she has.Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage.Never take action when you're angry.Have good posture.Enter a room with purpose and confidence.Don't discuss business in elevators.You never know who may overhear you.Never pay for work before it's completed.Be willing to lose a battle in order to win the war.Don't gossip.Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.When facing a difficult task, act as though it is impossible to fail.

If you're going after Moby Dick, take along the tartar sauce.

Don't spread yourself too thin.

Learn to say no politely and quickly.Don't expect life to be fair.Never underestimate the power of forgiveness.Instead of using the word problem, try substituting the word opportunity.Never walk out on a quarrel with your wife.Regarding furniture and clothes: if you think you'll be using them five years or longer, buy the best you can afford.Be bold and courageous.When you look back on your fife, you'll regret the things, you didn't do more than the ones you did.Forget committees. New, noble, world-changing ideas always come from one person working alone. Street musicians are a treasure.Stop for a moment and listen; then leave a small donation.

When faced with a serious health problem, get at least three medical opinions.Wage war against littering.After encountering inferior service, food or products, bring it to the attention of the person in charge.Good managers will appreciate knowing.Don't procrastinate.Do what needs doing when it needs to be done.Get your priorities straight.No one ever said on his deathbed, "Gee, if I'd only spent more time at the office."Don't be afraid to say "I don't know."Don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry."Make a list of 25 things you want to experience before you die.

Carry it in your wallet and refer to it often.Call your mother.

“Sometimes beautiful things come into our lives out of nowhere. We can't always understand them, but we have to trust in them. I know you want to question everything, but sometimes it pays to just have a little faith.” ―Lauren Kate, Torment

YEARS AGO, I read that it was the responsibility of parents not to pave the road for their children, but to provide a road map. So, as my son, Adam, prepared to leave for college, I jotted down a few words of counsel and put them in a dime-store binder. After his mother and I had helped him move into his dorm, I presented him with the bound pages. A few days later, Adam called me. "Dad," he said, the book is one of the best gifts I've ever received. I'm going to add to it and someday give it to my son." Every once in a while life hands you a moment so precious, so overwhelming, that you almost glow. I had just experienced one.

Here are the words I gave him.

Compliment three people each day.Watch a sunrise at least once a year:Overtip breakfast waitresses.Look people in the eye.Say "thank you" a lot.Say "please" a lot.Live beneath your means.Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.Treat everyone you meet as you want to be treated.Donate two pints of blood every year.Make new friends but cherish the old ones.Keep secrets.Don't waste time learning the "tricks of the trade."Instead, learn the trade.Admit your mistakes.Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be.No one can tell the difference.Choose a charity in your community and support it generously with your time and money.Read the Bill of Rights.Use credit cards only for convenience, never for credit. Never cheat.Give yourself a year and read the Bible cover to cover.Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all he or she has.Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage.Never take action when you're angry.Have good posture.Enter a room with purpose and confidence.Don't discuss business in elevators.You never know who may overhear you.Never pay for work before it's completed.Be willing to lose a battle in order to win the war.Don't gossip.Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.When facing a difficult task, act as though it is impossible to fail.

If you're going after Moby Dick, take along the tartar sauce.

Don't spread yourself too thin.

Learn to say no politely and quickly.Don't expect life to be fair.Never underestimate the power of forgiveness.Instead of using the word problem, try substituting the word opportunity.Never walk out on a quarrel with your wife.Regarding furniture and clothes: if you think you'll be using them five years or longer, buy the best you can afford.Be bold and courageous.When you look back on your fife, you'll regret the things, you didn't do more than the ones you did.Forget committees. New, noble, world-changing ideas always come from one person working alone. Street musicians are a treasure.Stop for a moment and listen; then leave a small donation.

When faced with a serious health problem, get at least three medical opinions.Wage war against littering.After encountering inferior service, food or products, bring it to the attention of the person in charge.Good managers will appreciate knowing.Don't procrastinate.Do what needs doing when it needs to be done.Get your priorities straight.No one ever said on his deathbed, "Gee, if I'd only spent more time at the office."Don't be afraid to say "I don't know."Don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry."Make a list of 25 things you want to experience before you die.

Friday, July 20, 2012

There was once a question posed: "To be, or not to be...?" The answer is BE! Shakespeare describes "being" as living with pains and troubles, but describes "not being" as a place from where "no traveller returns." Then who/what should you BE? We should not worry about who we are not, but we should BE who we are and the joy will follow.

Can I just say how much I love this guy? I have a pretty rockin' family. No recluse uncles, no bitter cousins, no denied inheritances. Not like there is much to inherit, but you get the idea. We have our flaws but overall, a fairly stable, happy family.

Anyway,

I found the below guide online, but the background image and text font/color didn't look so hot together, so I just typed it up for you.

Emergency numbers may be dialed direct.

No operator assistance is necessary.

For assurance - call
Mark 8:35

When in sorrow - call
John 14

When you need mercy - call
3 Nephi 9:14

When you are afraid - call
D&C 6:36

When you have sinned - call
Psalm 51

For dealing with fear - call
D&C 10:55-56

When you want courage - call
Joshua 1:9

When you need strength - call
Ether 12:27

When you are in danger - call
Psalm 91

When you are stressed out - call
D&C 10:4

When someone has wronged you - call
D&C 64:9

When you want peace and rest - call
Matthew 11:28-30

When adversity is overwhelming - call
D&C 122:3-8

For Paul’s secret to happiness - call
Colossians 3:12-17

When you need to make a decision - call
D&C 9:8-9

For a great invention/opportunity - call
Isaiah 55

When you need to win against Satan - call
D&C 10:5

When you need faith in the prophet - call
D&C 21:4-5

When you need to receive revelation - call
Alma 26:22

When you need to develop a testimony - call
Alma 32:28

If you are losing confidence in people - call
1 Corinthians 13

When your prayers aren’t being answered - call
D&C 98:1-3

When you think your investments and returns - call
Mark 10:23-25

When you have trouble getting along with others - call
Romans 12

When it seems like your problems will never end - call
D&C 121:7-8

When you need a testimony of the book of Mormon - call
Moroni 10:3-5

And finally, don’t forget to pray!

All lines are open to Jesus
Christ 24 hours

xoxo,

McCall

Happy Moon Day!

Josiah's ABS's to happiness

A - AppreciationB - Be

There was once a question posed: "To be, or not to be...?" The answer is BE! Shakespeare describes "being" as living with pains and troubles, but describes "not being" as a place from where "no traveller returns." Then who/what should you BE? We should not worry about who we are not, but we should BE who we are and the joy will follow.

Can I just say how much I love this guy? I have a pretty rockin' family. No recluse uncles, no bitter cousins, no denied inheritances. Not like there is much to inherit, but you get the idea. We have our flaws but overall, a fairly stable, happy family.

Anyway,

I found the below guide online, but the background image and text font/color didn't look so hot together, so I just typed it up for you.

My cousin began this series of Facebook posts, and I am pretty dang excited for the rest of them:

Josiah's ABC's to happiness.

A- Appreciation

There is nothing in life that we are entitled to. Anything and everything could be taken from us in 1 minute, 1 hour, or 1 decade. Because of that, we must appreciate everything we have while we have it or it might be too late.

Now for some more fangirling:

I love Viktor Krum. He is one of the most under-appreciated characters out there, yet I am absolutely in love with him. Ignoring the fact that he is an international athlete and has thousands of adoring fans, his accent and such make him seem so humble - which I love. During the Tri-Wizard Tournament he had limitless options - any girl would swoon to be his date - and yet he chose Hermione Granger, the quiet, intelligent girl whom he would spy on. That may sound creepy, but c'mon! He would take the time to do his morning jog past her study spot, or be seen in the library. That is just so cute! He was able to identify a true beauty. Not the childish, put on girls that would follow him like lost puppies.

He is a hero to me.

And yet, where is his Happily Ever After? After Bill and Fleur's Wedding party, we don't hear of him again.

Who knows? Maybe he is still single. ;)

I am saddened to inform you that I have recently contracted a very serious virus. So far 3,000,000+ have been stricken with the same strain of ODF5 as I have, and yet there is no cure. I'm not sure how serious it is - for right now, I am showing only minor symptoms. Please keep me in your prayers.

I have got One Direction Fever.

(Just to clear any confusion, this is ODF5)

It's absolutely crazy.

I mean, I didn't even like What Makes You Beautiful when it first came out.

"Nah, not my type."

But oh-so-subtly the infection set in. I initially got the illness from a dear friend, Gabby. She had a serious case, and was babbling non-stop about the five foreign boys who apparently made funny vlogs. Curiosity got the better of me and I began to look up these oh-so-hilarious youtube videos, and faster than you can blink I was hooked.

Goodness.

What am I to do?

xoxo,

McCall

Happy Flitch Day!

My cousin began this series of Facebook posts, and I am pretty dang excited for the rest of them:

Josiah's ABC's to happiness.

A- Appreciation

There is nothing in life that we are entitled to. Anything and everything could be taken from us in 1 minute, 1 hour, or 1 decade. Because of that, we must appreciate everything we have while we have it or it might be too late.

Now for some more fangirling:

I love Viktor Krum. He is one of the most under-appreciated characters out there, yet I am absolutely in love with him. Ignoring the fact that he is an international athlete and has thousands of adoring fans, his accent and such make him seem so humble - which I love. During the Tri-Wizard Tournament he had limitless options - any girl would swoon to be his date - and yet he chose Hermione Granger, the quiet, intelligent girl whom he would spy on. That may sound creepy, but c'mon! He would take the time to do his morning jog past her study spot, or be seen in the library. That is just so cute! He was able to identify a true beauty. Not the childish, put on girls that would follow him like lost puppies.

He is a hero to me.

And yet, where is his Happily Ever After? After Bill and Fleur's Wedding party, we don't hear of him again.

Who knows? Maybe he is still single. ;)

I am saddened to inform you that I have recently contracted a very serious virus. So far 3,000,000+ have been stricken with the same strain of ODF5 as I have, and yet there is no cure. I'm not sure how serious it is - for right now, I am showing only minor symptoms. Please keep me in your prayers.

I have got One Direction Fever.

(Just to clear any confusion, this is ODF5)

It's absolutely crazy.

I mean, I didn't even like What Makes You Beautiful when it first came out.

"Nah, not my type."

But oh-so-subtly the infection set in. I initially got the illness from a dear friend, Gabby. She had a serious case, and was babbling non-stop about the five foreign boys who apparently made funny vlogs. Curiosity got the better of me and I began to look up these oh-so-hilarious youtube videos, and faster than you can blink I was hooked.

Indexing is "the process of creating indexes for record collections. Having indexes allows researchers to more quickly find records for specific individuals; without them, researchers might have to look through hundreds or thousands of records to locate an individual record."

Basically, I look at a photocopied document and electronically fill in the information online so that you can more easily search for information. The records I have been working on are from the 1940 census, and dang did those Feds need to practice their handwriting. Cursive can be extremely unreadable, you know.

It is amusing to create stories based on the information. For example, the records give age, status (married, divorced, widowed, etc.), place of birth, place of residence, race, etc. So, I can gather that Fred Bob Longbottom the third lived in Arkansas with his wife, three kids, nephew, mother-in-law, and a boarder who was from the Bronx. Then, I have the freedom to create the rest of their tale - how the mother-in-law illegally sells pudding to the Russian Mafia and therefore mysteriously disappears two years after the census; and Little Sally feels resentful as the middle child and lives the rest of her life ignoring the presence of her siblings who don't have a clue as to why they don't receive any Christmas cards from Little Sally.

Pretty fun.

My favorite record so far was a collection of orphans - how did I know they were orphans? Their status was "ward" and they were all 18 and under. Same roof, different last names.

Each "batch" takes me around 20-30 minutes - and it is much more enjoyable than I first thought.

At church, our goal was for each youth to do one batch a week this summer, but Abby and I didn't begin until yesterday. So far I have completed six batches, and I hope to get even more by the end of this week.

Try it.

I dare you.

xoxo,
McCall

Happy National Get Out of the Doghouse Day!

So...

Guess what.

I began indexing! Whatta party.

Indexing is "the process of creating indexes for record collections. Having indexes allows researchers to more quickly find records for specific individuals; without them, researchers might have to look through hundreds or thousands of records to locate an individual record."

Basically, I look at a photocopied document and electronically fill in the information online so that you can more easily search for information. The records I have been working on are from the 1940 census, and dang did those Feds need to practice their handwriting. Cursive can be extremely unreadable, you know.

It is amusing to create stories based on the information. For example, the records give age, status (married, divorced, widowed, etc.), place of birth, place of residence, race, etc. So, I can gather that Fred Bob Longbottom the third lived in Arkansas with his wife, three kids, nephew, mother-in-law, and a boarder who was from the Bronx. Then, I have the freedom to create the rest of their tale - how the mother-in-law illegally sells pudding to the Russian Mafia and therefore mysteriously disappears two years after the census; and Little Sally feels resentful as the middle child and lives the rest of her life ignoring the presence of her siblings who don't have a clue as to why they don't receive any Christmas cards from Little Sally.

Pretty fun.

My favorite record so far was a collection of orphans - how did I know they were orphans? Their status was "ward" and they were all 18 and under. Same roof, different last names.

Each "batch" takes me around 20-30 minutes - and it is much more enjoyable than I first thought.

At church, our goal was for each youth to do one batch a week this summer, but Abby and I didn't begin until yesterday. So far I have completed six batches, and I hope to get even more by the end of this week.